Trip To Mstkheta Jvari Monastery & Tbilisi Highlights

As continuation of my previous post .. I arrived in the hotel, had some rest, took lunch and waited for my tour guide to pick me.

At 2:00 pm I was already in lobby and waiting for them, but they arrived around 2:30pm as we were many they need to pick from different hotel. The bus was full of tourist from different countries. There are couple, family, group of friends and also solo traveler like me.

Then, our tour guide name Martha welcome us and explain about our itinerary for the day.

Our first destination was visiting to Jvris Monastery in Mtskheta. It took only around 35 minutes from Old Tbilisi town going up to the hill top of Mtskheta where Jvari Monastery is located.

MTSKHETA JVARI MONASTERY TOUR

Many of the ancient churches in Georgia are located on a hill. One of them is the Jvari Monastery in Mstkheta. (Mtskheta is one of the oldest towns and cultural and religious centre of Georgia. It was the capital of the Eastern Georgian Kingdom of Iberia from the Third century BC.)Jvari Monastery is a sixth century Georgian Orthodox monastery. A true architectural masterpiece of the early medieval period overlooking the confluence of Aragvi and Mtkvari Rivers from the top of the hill. You will be fascinated with this gorgeous scenic view of the whole town of Mtskheta.

I took this photo while I was standing on the road where we parked our tour bus. When you look around you can see all mountains and cliff.

The Jvari Church view from the road.

Jvari Church (took this photo from the side road going up)

Overlooking from the top is Mtkvari and Aragvi rivers

There is a big cross inside the monastery

People can light up a candle and pray

Details information about the monastery

My photo background view is the monastery

My selfie from the top

Back view is the Mtkvari and Aragvi rivers

Another selfie of mine overlooking Mtkvari and Aragvi rivers

SVETITSKHOVELI CATHEDRAL

Then we headed to Svetitskhoveli Cathedral. It’s 20 minutes going there from Jvari Monastery.

Svetitskhoveli is the main Cathedral of Mtskheta and a sacred place where the robe of Christ is being kept according to them.

Inside Svetitskhoveli Cathedral.

Outside view of Svetitskhoveli Cathderal.

The neighborhood of the Cathedral.

Of course my photo remembrance in the cathedral 🙂

On my right side, there are lots of shops for wines, souvernirs and authentic food in Georgia.

One shop of souvenirs and wines.

Another shops of souvernirs. Those hanged items there with different colors are Churchkela. Churchkhelais a traditional Georgian candle-shaped candy. The main ingredients are grape must, nuts and flour. Almonds, walnuts, hazelnut and chocolate and sometimes raisins are threaded onto a string, dipped in thickened grape juice or fruit juices and dried in the shape of a sausage.

This Churchkhela is properly packed as gift I bought in the airport. (Hazelnut)

Walnut churchkhela hanged from the shop.

There was a man selling a beautiful painting.

This is the street left and right are all shops of souvenirs . If your stomach is already starving you can also find Georgian bread, corn, pizza and burger.

This is an authentic Georgian wine.

Another shop of wine.

This is the location of our bus.

Around 6:00pm maybe, it’s almost dark when we went back to Old Tbilisi town to take the cable car, sightseeing around the city and have dinner.

OLD TBILISI TOWN TOUR

Medani Square, Old Tbilisi Georgia.

We entered in one market with full of souvenirs again and paintings.

The City during the night. Nightlife is not boring in this City. It is very alive full of lightings and a lot of people are enjoying in bars and restaurants.

This photo was taken from the top of the Hill , Cable Car station.

After we ride the Cable Car and we reached the top we went down just by walk going to the souvenirs center again.

This architecture is shining in white catching to an eye that’s why I took photo.

Wines and Souvenirs Center.

Keychains

After everyone was finished in souvenirs, it’s time for dinner. Just 3 minutes walk from that center.

DINNER TIME

We enjoyed the dinner in a local restaurant and tasted the rich flavor of Georgian Cuisine.

Then the night was over, each one of us were dropped to each hotel and have a good night sleep to recharged for the next day tour.